Their upcoming partnership with Puma, comments from his agent Mino Raiola and from Barbara Berlusconi just added to the growing sense that Arsenal could pull off a shock coup.

However Wenger has made it unequivocal, at least it should be, that Balotelli will not be an Arsenal player, saying:

“It’s pure invention. We cannot believe absolutely everything that is on the internet or in the papers. Sometimes it’s created by agents or by press who needs news. But in this case, it’s not true.”

Charlton Athletic have announced the departure of their 19-year-old player of the year Diego Poyet on a free transfer. The talented attacking midfielder broke into the side midway through the season and is said to want a step up - so decided to reject The Addicks latest deal.

Arsenal are one of many teams, including Chelsea, Spurs and Manchester City being linked with the player - who is the son of Sunderland manager Gustavo Poyet.

Mathew Nash

I’m Mathew Nash a 27 year old graduate in Sports Studies and I have an insatiable love for sport. With a particularly keen interest for the madcap world of football I have always been known amongst friends as a beacon for bizarre sporting trivia and knowledge. My other passion is for writing and hopefully combining the two will create a superb and entertaining marriage that will create, divide and share opinion.Mathew is a correspondent for the NextGen Series, Ligue 1 and Primeira Liga.